NFPA Applauds USDA, HHS Opposition To Single Agency

July 19,1999

The National Food Processors Association applauds a USDA-Health and Human Services Department decision to oppose a single food safety agency. Meanwhile, the Clinton Administration proposes yet another quasi-agency structure to coordinate federal food safety research.

NFPA said a single food agency would create more problems than it would solve. A single food safety policy rather than a single food agency "holds the greatest promise for further enhancing the safety of our nation's food supply," said NFPA President and CEO John Cady.

"A new bureaucracy is not needed; rather, existing agencies, through improved coordination and communication, can work better together to achieve the food safety needs of the 21st century," he added.

Late last week, the President's Council on Food safety sent President Clinton a plan to establish a Joint Institute for Food Safety Research to coordinate federal food safety research. USDA and HHS will lead the institute, which will work closely with others in federal, state and local governments and the private sector and academia. An executive director and staff are expected to be in place later this year.